Issued by the APEC Investment Experts’
Group
Guangzhou, People’s Republic of China, 13
February 2026
From supply chain resilience to
digital investment and sustainability, economies across the
Asia-Pacific are using investment policy to recalibrate
growth strategies in a more fragmented global
economy.
Officials responsible for investment policy
met in Guangzhou last week to examine how domestic and
international investment frameworks are adapting to changes
in trade patterns, production structures and investment
flows.
The agenda reflected a growing emphasis on not
only attracting capital, but also improving the quality,
resilience and developmental impact of investment across the
region.
Across APEC, economies are adjusting
investment policy frameworks to support productivity,
competitiveness and long-term development amid a more
complex and uncertain global investment
environment.
“In this context, the role of
investment policy in supporting growth, competitiveness and
long-term development has become increasingly central,”
said Mariana Pinto, Convenor of the Investment
Experts Group, in a recorded message shared with
participants at the meeting.
“Shifts in supply
chains, the digitalization of economic activity and growing
expectations around sustainability and resilience are
influencing not only the direction, but also the quality of
investment flows,” she added.
Advertisement – scroll to continue reading
Policy discussions
focused on domestic investment policy design and
implementation, including approaches to quality and
sustainable investment, inclusive and responsible business
conduct, investment policies for digital transformation and
the use of investment screening mechanisms.
Economies
also exchanged experiences on the effectiveness of
investment incentives and evidence-based approaches to
improving investment promotion outcomes.
A second
track examined investment facilitation, promotion and
institutional delivery, with economies sharing practical
experiences on impact investing, foreign direct investment
facilitation models, investment retention and aftercare
policies, as well as the role of investment promotion
agencies in upgrading and expanding existing
investments.
Delegates also reviewed progress on
implementing the updated Investment
Facilitation Action Plan and explored
capacity-building initiatives to strengthen policy
delivery.
International investment policy and reform
featured prominently, with discussions covering investment
treaty reform, investor–state dispute settlement, dispute
prevention and mitigation, and the evolving role of
international organisations in supporting more predictable
and coherent investment regimes.
Reflecting on the
discussions, Maite de Elorriaga, Interim Convenor of the
Investment Experts’ Group who led the meeting in
Guangzhou, highlighted the substantive and constructive
exchanges held over the two days.
She underscored the
value of the dialogue among economies and with international
organisations in identifying shared challenges, diverse
approaches and practical policy lessons to support a
forward-looking and resilient investment environment across
the APEC
region.
